Day 27 - Beginnings, The Help

I just spent the past two and a half hours watching The Help.  It's been a long while since a movie touched me in quite that way.  Movies have often dealt with the race issues in our history, but only a few stood out to me.  The 1974 film, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman was one of those.  Cicely Tyson was magnificent.  It was both heartbreaking and inspiring.  In 1985, The Color Purple broke my heart again.  The Help is another one of those.  It was a joy to see Cicely Tyson again, as Constantine, and Viola Davis was amazing as Aibileen.  It was a different kind of story.  One where you saw good and bad on both sides, but it felt like goodness won.  No, it didn't tie it up in a pretty package as if everything ended ok, but it left you with a feeling of hope.

My early childhood years were during the turbulent 1960's.  Racism was covered on the evening news.  It shocked me to see the overt hostility on peoples faces.  Brutality of any kind had always frightened me, and I couldn't understand how people could resort to cruelty and violence.

I used to hear people say things like, "I just don't see color."  I do see color.  I want to see it.  I want to see all our differences and glory in them.  I want to be seen for who I am.  When we look at the world around us, much of the greatest beauty is in the differences of texture and color.  Craggy mountains, deep valleys, smooth blue waters, sky, clouds, sun, and rain.  It's the kaleidoscope of differences that shock and thrill us with their wonder.  Seeing people is like that too.  Some are comforting, some bring smiles, some try our patience and stretch our boundaries, others leave us breathless with their beauty.  Our common bond is the most important thing.  We are human, we have heart and soul and spirit.  I wish it was enough to stop the hatred and injustice which still exists in our world.  It isn't yet, but I still have hope.

© 27JAN12 ajj

28JAN12 - NEW NOTE...  From a thread on FB, I discovered a lot of people who felt the movie minimized the race issue.  Some were even highly offended by it and felt it continued to perpetuate racism.  I didn't get that from it.  I thought it was a blend of drama and humor, that tried to look at both sides.  My hope is always that our world continues to grow toward more understanding and peace.  Please leave comments, negative or positive.  I always have room to learn from others.  Wishing you peace!